Cross Country Boys finish 4th, girls 12th in Plainview

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

The Slaton High School Cross Country teams competed in the Plainview Invitational Saturday (Sept. 21) at Kidsville Park in Plainview.

The Varsity Boys team finished fourth out of 29 teams.

Individually, top finishers were Ty Kinch finished 12 with a  time of 17:04 and Zach Gonzales, who finished 21st with a time of 17:26. Both received a medal.

Other finishers were Ishmael Gonzales, 46th, 18:07; Elijah Culver, 82nd, 18:53; Christian Perales, 111th,  19:26; Isaiah Chapa, 131st, 19:47; Ivan Venzor, 185th, 21:20; and Anguel Lopez, 226th, 23:26.

The Varsity Girls team finished 12th out of 34 teams.

Top medal finishers were Alice Cogburn, 13th, with a time of 12:50 and Mary Jo Parker, 22nd, 13:04.

Other finishers were Nata Soto, 87th, 14:21; Kristen Chavarin, 102nd, 14:33; Emily Herrera, 111th, 14:37; and Justyne Zapata, 183rd, 15:31.

Coach Landon Sims was impressed with the results. “I thought we competed very well. The boys finishing fourth out of everyone was outstanding,” he said. “The girls had a great today, everyone had a great day, we had several season best times, and we had six kids get medals.

“Both teams have an excellent chance to do amazing things. If they can just keep working hard and believing in themselves the sky is the limit for both groups.”

The JV girls finished fourth out of 10 teams, and the Junior High Girls and Boys also ran, but there were no places or standings for that race.

The teams will compete again Saturday (Sept. 28) in the Lubbock Invitational at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock.